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P.J. O'Rourke, panelist on NPR's 'Wait...Wait Don't Tell Me!,' dies at 74

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

For decades, his dry wit entertained, and his unapologetic commentary challenged people to think. On Tuesday, political satirist and writer P.J. O'Rourke died at his home in New Hampshire. He leaned conservative, but his writing straddled both sides of the political divide.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

P J O'ROURKE: Biden's campaign hasn't really been very lively. But Trump's campaign to get unelected from president has just been ripping along.

(LAUGHTER)

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

O'Rourke was a frequent panelist on our own quiz show, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

O'ROURKE: My whole purpose in life, basically, is to offend everyone who listens to NPR.

(LAUGHTER)

FADEL: In fact, he used one of his appearances to make a special announcement - he'd be voting for Hillary Clinton.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

O'ROURKE: You know, I mean, she's wrong about absolutely everything.

(LAUGHTER)

O'ROURKE: But she's wrong within normal parameters.

(LAUGHTER)

MARTIN: Among his many roles, O'Rourke did stints as National Lampoon editor-in-chief and as the foreign affairs desk chief at Rolling Stone. He authored more than a dozen books, writing about everything from food to millennials and his life as a baby boomer. Here he is in an interview with the show "Uncommon Knowledge."

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE")

O'ROURKE: There is probably very few generations that have had as much fun - too much fun. Of course, in some cases, it went down the John Belushi road. But we did have a tremendously good time.

FADEL: His publicist said he died of complications from lung cancer. O'Rourke was 74 years old. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.